Oliviers For Helen Mirren And Curious Incident

The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time has swept the board at the Olivier Awards - but Dame Helen Mirren was crowned the queen of British theatre for her second Elizabeth II role.

The star, who played the monarch in The Audience, said her win was down to the real-life popularity of the Queen, who she joked had put in the "most consistent and committed performance of the twentieth century and probably the twenty-first".

Speaking backstage, Dame Helen said winning did not mean she was "the best actor".

The actress, who won an Oscar for her film role in The Queen, said: "It really doesn't mean that, because there are so many incredible performances out there, including many that weren't even nominated."

Image Caption:Myleene Klass was among some of the famous faces on the red carpet

The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time picked up seven awards - including best actor for its leading man Luke Treadaway.

It was also named best new play. Accepting that award, Simon Stephens, who adapted Mark Haddon's novel, praised the "downright sodding genius" of director Marianne Elliott, who was named best director.

Accepting his award from Sex And The City star Kim Cattrall, Treadaway said it was "amazing" to win.

The actor said a lot of the success of the play was down to the original novel which tells the story of a 15-year-old boy who describes himself as "a mathematician with some behavioural difficulties".

His co-star Nicola Walker was named best supporting actress.

Sweeney Todd was named best musical revival, with its stars Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton named best actor and actress in a musical respectively.

Best actor in a supporting role went to Richard McCabe for his portrayal of former prime minister Harold Wilson in The Audience.

Accepting his award, he thanked his "extraordinary" co-star Dame Helen.

Awards for lighting, sound and set design also went to The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time with the gong for costume design going to Top Hat.

Goodnight Mister Tom won the award for entertainment and family show, while the musical Billy Elliot won the BBC Radio 2 Audience Award.

The award for outstanding achievement in dance went to Marianela Nunez for her performances with the The Royal Ballet at the Royal Opera House.

Playwright and novelist Michael Frayn, whose work includes the classic farce Noises Off, won a special award.

The night saw some of the biggest names in stage and screen gather at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, central London, with the likes of Daniel Radcliffe, Damian Lewis and Myleene Klass posing for photographers and signing autographs.